River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-08
WAR STORY.

IL was some little time after the Oattle
of Baton Rouge. We had concentrated
our forces upon The Government
grounds and thrown upa line of earth
works for better protection. We were
in continual expectation of being at
tackled by the enemy,-in fact our cav
airy pickets were generally skirmishing.
Our infantry pickets were stationed
about mile from the river, forming a
circle around the town, and had orders
to retire if attacked, so that the gun
boats could shell the enemy.
On the day in which the events mar
rated happened. squad of Co. H, 9th
Mich, was posted on the last street
parallel with the river. in front of Mag
nolia Cemetery. and on the street lead
ing back from the river on the right of
the penitentiary. Our single pickets or
videts were well advanced, while the
relief or reserve remained some dis
lance in the rear. near some rough,
new houses on the outskirts of town.
The whole town had been deserted
by its inhabitants during and just after
the battle, leaving their houses just as
they had been living in them, already
furnished. Going on picket was al
ways our opportunity o. supplying our
selves with meat. and for that reason
we were always ready to go. We had
gone out early in the morning, and
while two were on post the remaining
four were ihdustriously foraging. BY
IL or o'clock we had beef and good,
nice pig. just large enough to fill an
oven.
Up to this time we had not thought
of entering any of the houses. but the
necessity of roasting our hard earnings
led us to look around. Sure enough,
in the first house of three snug little
rooms, we found everything we wanted
A clean little kitchen. well fitted up,
with stove ware hanging conveniently
on the wall, and in safe close by, salt,
pepper, and any other condiments
likely to be called for, seemed just the
place to do our work.
Corporal Joe Shaw and myself we're
the cooks. and we went about it in a
business-like manner. We soon had
fire started and the pig wei under way
cooking, when we were startled by
lively shooting on our left, and directly
the gunboats commenced throwing
shells over our heads. Joe and / con-
suited as to our best course. cOnclud-
ing that IL was best to get out of the
house, as we were in direct line of
shell throwing. We started TO take our
pig, but it was so rot, and not done by
an hour, that we left it, hoping to
return. We put one more stick of
wood in the fire. grabbed our guns and
started, but not a second to soon, for
crash came a large shell through the
house and the air was full of splinters.
When we got out into The street our
squad was some distance in the rear, and
walking briskly to avoid the shells, which
were now falling all around us, and
blowing great burrows in the ground.
As soon as we got back to the peniteil-
tiary we halted for a cessation of gun
boat firing, as we had seen nothing as
vet to cause us to fire a shot. 1t was
more than two hours before we were
permitted to go back, and all this time
we were uneasy as poor soldiers could
be when there was roast pig in pros
pect. We made very quick step or
our return, discussing on the way the
of some one making raid
OR our kitchen.
The pickets placed themselves while
Joe and started to find our pig. We
could see the large hole made by the
she'll on the front of the house where it
came out. but as we opened the door
md went in we saw the terrible effect of |
'plinters. The rooms were full of
hem. sticking in the wall and floor,
'Ome of them being driven with such
orce that they penetrated the wall
through and through. The stove was
rarely warm. but our pig was roasted
n splendid style--a rich brown. and
Is tender as could be asked for. II
vas quite dark before we finished up,
,ut we saved our pig. WILBER II.
TEBBEB, Lampasas, Tex.